Department for Transport

Shipping: Charities

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of (1) the Apostleship of the Sea, (2) the Mission to Seafarers, and (3) other UK based maritime worker welfare charities.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department recognises the role charities can play in addressing the hardships currently impacting transport workers, however the DfT does not conduct assessment of any charities, including those in the maritime sector.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Climate Change Convention: Travel

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they are making, as hosts of COP26, to ensure that participants are able to travel to the conference in the lowest-carbon manner possible, including by (1) train from all parts of Europe, and (2) by sleeper trains.

lord callanan: We will encourage all delegates to consider low-carbon travel options, such as rail, particularly those arriving from Europe. Rail travel within the UK will certainly be encouraged and we are in the process of developing a multifaceted transport plan that supports the delegate experience and has sustainability at the core.

Carbon Emissions

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish their plans for meeting their Net Zero target for carbon emissions by 2050.

lord callanan: Tackling climate change and delivering our world-leading Net Zero target is a key priority for the Government. In 2020-21, ahead of hosting COP26, we will bring forward ambitious new plans to reduce emissions across key sectors of the economy – including an Energy White Paper, Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Heat and Building Strategy. This will build on the strong foundations we have established through our world-leading progress in decarbonising our economy, our ambitious manifesto commitments, and recent announcements from my Rt. Hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer of measures to cut emissions as we build back better in our economic recovery from Covid-19. We look forward to the Committee on Climate Change’s advice on the sixth carbon budget in December this year, ahead of setting this next ambitious target on the path to Net Zero by June 2021 as required by the Climate Change Act.

Data Protection

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to instruct the Competition and Markets Authority to undertake an anti-trust investigation into the practices of companies providing consumer Internet of Things devices, following reports of restrictive practices regarding data access and interoperability that may be designed to distort competition.

lord callanan: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the independent non-Ministerial department responsible for investigating competition issues in the UK. The Government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers to investigate and act if it finds that companies are behaving anti-competitively in a market.

Energy: Meters

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to enforce the right of data portability and other interoperability requirements to ensure that individuals with existing devices and tools such as smart meters can exercise this right.

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the ability of consumers to exercise their right to data portability under Article 20 of the General Data Protection Regulation when switching between energy suppliers using smart meters, and (2) whether such switches are being hindered by a lack of compliance by energy companies with this right.

lord callanan: Under Article 20 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), consumers have the right to obtain and reuse their personal data, including smart metering consumption data that they have provided to the energy supplier. Energy consumers’ rights under the GDPR are not affected by switching energy supplier. In order to ensure that energy consumers have control over their energy consumption data, the Government established the smart metering Data Access and Privacy Framework, which is implemented through energy licences and codes and complements wider data protection legislation. Energy suppliers are required to make available to domestic consumers with meters in smart mode, upon request, up to 24 months of data relating to consumption in each day, week, month and year. The data must be made available free of charge and in a readily understandable format. The Information Commissioner's Office is responsible for upholding information rights, while the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets is responsible for regulating energy suppliers’ compliance with licence obligations.

Fracking: Lancashire

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the withdrawal by Aurora Energy Resources of their planning application for fracking at Altcar Moss, Lancashire; and what advice theywill give to companies about future fracking projects in the light of this withdrawal.

lord callanan: The Government cannot comment on individual planning applications. The Government’s position on shale gas policy remains unchanged, as set out in a Written Ministerial Statement on 4 November 2019, Official Report, HLWS68[1] . Planning authorities should continue to take national planning policy and guidance into account in considering any relevant applications.[1] Energy Policy Update: Written statement - HLWS68: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2019-11-04/HLWS68/

Space Technology

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish a new cross-departmental National Space Strategy.

lord callanan: The UK’s space sector can strengthen our national capabilities, create high-skilled jobs and drive future economic growth across the UK. In order to support this, the Queen’s Speech on 19 December set out the Government’s intent to establish a new National Space Council and launch a comprehensive UK Space Strategy. The Council will consider its strategy in due course.

OneWeb

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government how governance of the UK’s equity investment in OneWeb will be structured to maintain the competitive market and level playing field for all UK satellite operators.

lord callanan: The Government is mindful of its responsibility to the Space sector. The commercial operation of OneWeb will be kept separate from the Government’s duties to ensure the transparent and effective operation of markets.

OneWeb

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the current generation of OneWeb satellites are solely for communications services; and what plans they have for a second generation of satellites capable of providing secure positioning data.

lord callanan: The current generation of OneWeb satellites deliver satellite communications services. We are currently assessing the wider use of their capabilities. Dedicated work is ongoing across Government to determine the UK’s positioning, navigation and timing requirements and assess options for meeting them.

Horizon Europe

lord allen of kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they remain committed to the UK’s continued membership of Horizon Europe; and what plans they have made if an agreement with the EU is not reached.

lord callanan: The Government’s recently published Research and Development Roadmap sets out our aim to maintain a close and friendly relationship with our European partners and we are in negotiations with the EU to participate in the next generation of European research and innovation programmes starting in 2021: Horizon Europe and Euratom Research and Training. Negotiations with the Commission are constructive and we are open to participation, but there are still some areas to be agreed – including financial contributions and suspension and termination clauses. As a responsible government, we are also developing a range of alternative measures to support international research and innovation alongside progressing the Horizon Europe negotiations. If we do not formally associate to Horizon Europe we will implement ambitious alternatives as quickly as possible from January 2021. This includes launching an ambitious new Discovery Fund, making funding available to allow UK partners to participate in European schemes open to third countries, and scaling up our most prestigious domestic research and innovation schemes. In all scenarios, it is our aim that UK organisations and entities continue to participate in Horizon Europe collaborative projects, as well as in wider international collaborations.

Innovation and Research

lord allen of kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the UK to meet the OECD average for gross domestic expenditure on research and development.

lord callanan: On 1 July, the Government published its ambitious research and development (R&D) roadmap. This builds on the ambitious commitment set out at Budget to increase public spending in R&D to £22 billion per year by 2024 to 2025, putting the UK on track to reach 2.4% of GDP, the current OECD average, being spent on R&D across the UK economy by 2027. We will set out details of this historic investment in due course, giving researchers and innovators confidence through our long-term investment.

Carillion: Audit

baroness bowles of berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) KPMG, and (2) the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, are involved in any of their work dealing with international accounting standards and dividends payments; and if so, what assessment they have made of whether such involvement is appropriate in the light of reports that the Official Receiver is seeking to take action against KPMG over alleged negligence in its audits of Carillion.

lord callanan: The Government announced as part of its response to the consultation on Insolvency and Corporate Governance that it would look further at options for strengthening of the legal framework governing dividend payments in a proportionate way. In that context, the Department asked the ICAEW for technical advice on ways in which potential new distributable reserves disclosure requirements might be framed. The ICAEW was also asked to consider how its Guidance on Realised and Distributable Profits (Tech 02/17BL) might be simplified and clarified. It has subsequently published an Introduction to the Law on Dividends which includes an explanation of the role and content of its technical guidance.  The Government believes that it is appropriate to receive views and advice on accountancy matters from a wide and balanced range of expert stakeholders including the ICAEW and KPMG. In relation to international accounting standards, members of KPMG and ICAEW have attended meetings and have input into discussions and consultations since the standards were introduced in the UK.  Consistent with his duties as a liquidator, the Official Receiver has investigated whether Carillion may have a claim against KPMG for losses resulting from the conduct of its statutory audit and is considering pursuing a claim in this regard. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

*No heading*

baroness bowles of berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the consistency of the use of current market values in company accounts with the preparation of accounts on a going concern basis; and what assessment they have made of the adequacy of international accounting standards on current market values, following the collapse of companies such as Carillion and Thomas Cook which applied these standards.

lord callanan: BEIS and the FRC are responsible for UK accounting standards as set out in the Companies Act 2006. The FRC’s Accounting and Reporting Policy Team’s remit is to follow and comment on the work of the IASB as it develops IFRS. The FRC regularly discuss improvements and amendments to standards with the IASB and responds to consultations in the light of discussions with stakeholders. At the end of the Transition Period, the UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) will work directly with IASB as part of their responsibilities for endorsing and adopting IFRS for the UK. One of the key responsibilities of the UKEB will be to ensure that adopting IFRS are in the UK’s public interest. The investigations into Carillion and Thomas Cook are ongoing. We will consider the outcome of these investigations and where necessary bring findings to the attention of the IASB.

Accountancy: Standards

baroness bowles of berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the probity of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation following the case of ZAO Askeri-ACCA v International Accounting Standards Committee Foundations ([2004] EWHC 2939 (Ch)); and what plans they have to conclude such an assessment before committing any taxpayer funds to the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation.

lord callanan: The Government is discussing a license agreement for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) with the IFRS Foundation. We are content that we will be able to conclude a legally satisfactory agreement. This is in line with the Government’s commitment to maintain use of IFRS after the end of the Transition Period. The case of ZAO Askeri-ACCA v International Accounting Standards Committee Foundations ([2004] EWHC 2939 (Ch)) was heard 16 years ago regarding a contract with the IFRS Foundation’s predecessor organisation. The Government does not believe this case to be relevant to any discussions between the Government and the IFRS Foundation.

Accountancy: Standards

baroness bowles of berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to conduct an investigation into (1) past inconsistencies in the registered addresses and the address for legal service of documents of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation, and (2) alleged conflicts of interest in the award of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation’s translation contracts, before committing any tax-payer funds to that Foundation.

lord callanan: Companies House records show that the IFRS Foundation is registered in Delaware and based in London. The Government hopes that the IFRS Foundation will continue to be based in London, as this will continue to recognise the UK’s world leading role in accounting standards and practice. The Government has no oversight role for the IFRS Foundation, which is the responsibility of its Monitoring Board, comprising of a number of international securities regulators. The Government is not aware of any alleged conflicts of interest that are referred to in the question.

Hydrogen: Renewable Energy

lord oates: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much, in total, they havecommitted to the development of a green hydrogen economy over the next five years.

lord callanan: The Government is committed to exploring the option of hydrogen as a strategic decarbonised energy carrier. This includes business models to support the deployment of, and investment in, low carbon hydrogen production and a £100m Low Carbon Hydrogen Production Fund, announced in August 2019 to stimulate capital investment. In parallel we are currently investing up to £121 million, between 2015 and 2021, in hydrogen innovation, supporting a range of projects exploring the potential of low carbon hydrogen across the value chain. This includes investment in green hydrogen both through innovation funding and other grants. An example is our support for the industrialisation of production processes at the new ITM Power Gigafactory being built in Sheffield which when complete will be the largest electrolyser manufacturing facility in the world. The Treasury has recently announced the Comprehensive Spending Review 2020, that will allow the government to consider its priorities across all spending over multiple years. Support to develop technologies that will support the government’s ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a priority.

UK Internal Market: : White Paper

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include (1) citizen, and (2) business, particularly small independent business, representation onthe independent advisory body referred to in the UK Internal Market White Paper published in July, to report to Parliament on the functioning of that Internal Market.

lord callanan: The White Paper sets out proposals for independent functions to support the smooth running of the Internal Market. These proposals are being consulted on, and we encourage the public to share their views on the White Paper proposals through the consultation, which will close on 13 August.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to announce the range of measures that make up the Green Homes Grant Scheme; and how that Scheme will operate.

lord callanan: The range of measures has now been announced.The Green Homes Grants will give homeowners, including owner occupiers and social/private landlords, vouchers to install one or more of the following:Solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall or roof insulation;Air source or ground source heat pump; orSolar thermal.In addition, households can use their voucher for further energy saving measures. These include one or more of the following:Double or triple glazing/secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing;Energy efficient replacement doors; andHot water tank/appliance tank thermostats/heating controls. The new scheme will see the Government fund up to two thirds of the cost of home improvements of over 600,000 homes, supporting over 100,000 jobs in green construction. Consumers in England will be able to claim the new vouchers, which are worth up to £5,000. Households on low income can receive vouchers covering 100% of the cost of the improvements, up to a maximum of £10,000.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether they have recruited a sufficient number of assessors to launch the Green Homes Grant Scheme in September as previously announced.

lord callanan: Retrofit assessors will not form a mandatory part of the Green Homes Grant, although applicants are encouraged to consult an assessor if they wish. Building the capacity and skills for retrofit assessment, and energy efficiency improvements more broadly, is an important part of the Green Homes Grant and will be achieved both through direct support and by ensuring the supply-chain has the confidence to recruit and train. The Government endorsed Simple Energy Advice service is designed to provide households with online advice and recommendations on the energy efficiency and heating improvements which they can make to their homes. Households will be able to apply for a Green Home voucher via the Simple Energy Advice service and will be encouraged to use the service to select the most appropriate measure or measures for their property.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a list of approved contractors to operate the Green Homes Grant Scheme.

lord callanan: Businesses and Tradespeople must register for TrustMark accreditation to take part in the scheme if they are not already registered. TrustMark is the Government-endorsed quality scheme covering work a consumer chooses to have carried out on their home. Households will be able to choose from approved tradespeople in their areas to carry out the work, but only approved and accredited installers will be able to be commissioned, ensuring high standards and consumer protection.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Uighurs

lord anderson of ipswich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding and recommendations of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its briefing paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on 22 July.

lord anderson of ipswich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on22 July, to request that an Advisory Opinion be sought from the International Court of Justice on the allegations highlighted in that paper.

lord anderson of ipswich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on22 July, to support the call of the UN independent experts of 26 June for decisive measures to protect fundamental freedoms in China by (1) urging the government of China to invite mandate-holders, including those with a mandate to monitor civil and political rights, to conduct independent missions and to permit those visits to take place in an environment of confidentiality, respect for human rights defenders, and full avoidance of reprisals against those with whom mandate-holders may meet, (2) calling upon the UN Human Rights Council to act with a sense of urgency to take all appropriate measures to monitor Chinese human rights practices, and (3) establishing an impartial and independent United Nations mechanism or a Secretary-General Special Envoy, to closely monitor, analyse and report annually on the human rights situation in China, particularly, in view of the urgency of the situation in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

lord anderson of ipswich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on22 July, to invoke China’s international responsibility for alleged violations of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by engaging the inter-State dispute mechanism.

lord anderson of ipswich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing PaperResponsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on22 July, to use all available offices and legal means to prevent any violations being committed against Uyghur and Turkic Muslim populations.

lord anderson of ipswich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on22 July, as recommended by the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, to create and apply Magnitsky-style sanctions on individuals, whether state or non-state actors, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect the person is involved in serious human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

baroness sugg: We are aware of the Bar Human Rights Committee report published on 22 July. We are carefully considering its findings. As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We regularly raise our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council in a joint statement with 27 other countries on 30 June.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

lord collins of highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa on 9 July (HC Deb, col 1119) and the decision of the Court of Cassation in Bahrain to uphold the death sentences of Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa, what plans they have (1) to issue a public statement, and (2) to make representations the government of Bahrain, about the use of the death penalty in that country.

baroness sugg: We are deeply concerned that on 13 July Bahrain's Court of Cassation upheld the death penalty verdicts imposed on Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister responsible for Human Rights, reiterated our concern in a tweet of 14 July. We have raised both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. Lord Ahmad also raised the cases with the Bahraini Ambassador to the UK on 14 July. The Government of Bahrain is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle.

Middle East and North Africa: Conflict Prevention

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the case for, and (2) the feasibility of, creating a new institution for détente and dialogue in the Middle East and North Africa; and what plans, if any, they have to make proposals for that purpose.

baroness sugg: A stable Middle East and North Africa is in every nation's interests. The UK engages regularly, at all levels, with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa and a wide range of external experts; this includes on regional issues. We are willing to consider any efforts to promote dialogue.

Commonwealth

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to discuss the case for creating new permanent Commonwealth specialist agencies at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

baroness sugg: The UK has no plans to discuss the creation of new specialist agencies at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). We are focused on strengthening and delivering through the existing institutions, organisations and networks of the Commonwealth. Those include the three inter-governmental organisations (the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth of Learning) and their many programmes; several intergovernmental fora of ministers and senior officials; and over 80 Commonwealth-accredited organisations. We look forward to the postponed CHOGM being held in Kigali next year. The UK will continue as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office until then.

Hamad al-Mahfood

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 17 July (HL6523), what assessment they have made of reports that political prisoner Hamad Al Mahfood has not yet received the urgent medical treatment required for an ongoing tooth infection despite the assurances they have received from the government of Bahrain about the access of prisoners to onsite dental treatment in Jau prison; and what representations they intend to make to the government of Bahrain about the provision of emergency treatment for Hamad Al Mahfood.

baroness sugg: I refer the Noble Lord to Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon's answer of 17 July (PQ HL6523). We encourage all individuals with concerns about access to medical, including dental, treatment in detention to raise them directly with the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body.

Hezbollah: Guided Weapons

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of reports by Alma Research and Education Centre indicating that Hezbollah has located at least 28 missile launch sites in residential areas in Beirut, including next to schools, hospitals and places of worship.

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to address at the United Nations Security Council reports that Hezbollah has located missile launch sites in residential areas of Beirut.

baroness sugg: The UK remains concerned by reports that Hizballah continues to amass an arsenal of weapons, in breach of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701. We condemn the threat this poses to regional stability.

Republic of Ireland: Coronavirus

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byBaroness Sugg on 15 June (HL4960), 29 June (HL5655) and 22 July (HL6669), whether they will now answer the questions put, in particular, on what date they were informed by the government of Ireland of its plansforpassengers travelling from Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland to be subject to quarantine restrictions in Ireland; and how those plans were communicated.

baroness sugg: We had a number of conversations with the Irish Government, including at Ministerial level, discussing our responses to the Covid-19 pandemic ahead of their decision to introduce a fourteen-day quarantine for all travellers coming into Ireland from 26 April.

Nigeria: Non-governmental Organisations

lord curry of kirkharle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 29 June (HL5836), what progressthey have made in identifying NGOswho are running effective programmes to deter attacks on (1) farming communities, and (2) religious minorities, in Nigeria.

baroness sugg: We are concerned by ‎intercommunal violence in Nigeria, which has had a devastating impact on many communities. We engage regularly with NGOs and a wide range of stakeholders working to address this violence. For example, in December 2019, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria visited Plateau State to meet with NGOs working on reconciliation. In February of this year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Wilton Park hosted a joint conference on 'Fostering Social Cohesion in Nigeria' with participation from NGOs and civil society. The discussion focused on the complex causes of conflict and explored solutions: a full report from the conference has now been published.The UK Government has provided technical support to the Nigerian Government for the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. The plan aims to promote cattle-rearing in one place, rather than the traditional nomadic practice, to limit competition over land and resources leading to violence.We are also designing our own programmes to address the high incidence of intercommunal violence in Nigeria. For example, a DFID programme to help address natural resource conflicts between farmers and herders, referred to in answer HL5836, is currently in development.

Leah Sharibu

lord curry of kirkharle: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the government of Nigeria about the abduction of Leah Sharibu; and what response they received.

baroness sugg: The UK Government has repeatedly called for the release of all those abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, including Leah Sharibu. We welcomed President Buhari's statement in February, reiterating his Government's commitment to bring Leah home safely. We will continue to engage with the Government of Nigeria in support of urgent action to secure the return of Leah Sharibu and all abductees.We regularly raise the issues of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria and at the highest levels of the Nigerian Government. The Prime Minister discussed UK support for fighting terrorism in Nigeria with President Buhari at the UK Africa Investment Summit in January. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), Rehman Chishti MP, met with the then Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria in January 2020 to discuss FoRB matters covering Nigeria, which had been raised with him by parliamentarians, and NGOs. In February, Rehman Chishti MP also met Leah's mother to express the UK's continued commitment to help Nigeria secure the release of all abductees.

Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Expenditure

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are (1) the sources, and (2) the amounts, of funding received by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in the latest financial year for which figures are available; what steps they plan to take to ensure that funding is made available through that Foundation to promote democratic engagement in Hong Kong;what plans they to support through (1) that Foundation, and (2) other means, (a) the costs of the legal defence of pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong, and (b) where appropriate, the cost of their travel to seek refuge in the UK.

baroness sugg: The Westminster Foundation for Democracy's (WFD) funding comes from a combination of grants provided by institutional donors, such as the DFID Accountable Grant, and the FCO. Details are set out in the WFD's Annual Report and Accounts, which can be found online. The UK remains fully committed to upholding Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and assembly which are guaranteed under the Joint Declaration and 'One Country, Two Systems' framework.

Hong Kong: Visas

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether they have sufficient powers underthe new Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa scheme to prevent the benefits of the scheme being enjoyed by individuals who have (1) participated in, (2) planned, or (3) encouraged, the perpetration of human rights abuses in Hong Kong.

baroness sugg: The offer we have set out for British Nationals (Overseas), BN(O)s, is a special, bespoke, set of arrangements developed for the unique circumstances we face, and in light of our historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong.The Home Secretary set out in Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa Policy Statement on 22 July. In line with the eligibility requirements for the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa, BN(O)s and their dependants will need to be able to demonstrate that they have no serious criminal convictions, have not otherwise engaged in behaviour which the UK Government deems not conducive to the public good, or be subject to other general grounds for refusal set out in the Immigration Rules.

International Cooperation

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they, and international fora, have(1) to address climate change and pollution, and (2) to prevent violent conflict and communicable diseases.

baroness sugg: Tackling climate change is a priority issue for the UK, which is why we bid to host COP 26 in partnership with Italy. We have committed to doubling the UK's International Climate Finance funding to at least £11.6 billion between 2021/22 and 2025/26. To ensure ambitious climate action across the world, the UK has around 180 diplomats engaged globally on climate issues, and the Climate and Energy Attaché Network expanded by 50 local staff in FY19/20 to help deliver COP26. The FCO has also recently appointed four Regional Ambassadors to support global engagement.The UK takes a holistic, coordinated approach to preventing violent conflict bilaterally and in international fora. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK takes its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and the prevention of violent conflict seriously and is active in preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding, and peacekeeping. In addition to ongoing defence, diplomatic and development engagement in key fragile and conflict affected areas, we are monitoring the increased risks as a result of Covid-19.The Prime Minister hosted the Global Vaccine Summit on 4 June, raising $8.8 billion to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's work to immunise a further 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives from vaccine preventable diseases by 2025. In June 2019 the UK pledged up to £1.4 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria for 2020-22 to contribute to the distribution of 92 million mosquito nets, treat over 2 million people suffering from TB and provide life-saving anti-retroviral therapy for more than 3.3 million people with HIV. In 2019, the UK announced a £400m commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to continue efforts towards eradicating the disease. The UK Government will continue to work with all our international partners in global efforts against communicable diseases.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for using the Royal Navy to protect Palestinian fishermen from attacks by the Israeli Navy.

baroness sugg: HMG have not made an assessment on using the Royal Navy in this way.

Palestinians: Archaeological Sites

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for providing protection for archaeological artefacts in Palestine to ensure that any such artefacts remain under Palestinian ownership.

baroness sugg: The UK acknowledges the importance of protecting archaeological artefacts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In our meetings with the Israeli authorities we regularly raise the need to respect the status quo of the holy sites in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. We continue to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to avoid actions that make it more difficult to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the civil rights of Palestinians living in Israel, in particular in Jisr al-Zarqa.

baroness sugg: Israel is a thriving democracy with a long-standing commitment to equality for all. It maintains a fine balance between its Jewish identity and its democratic values. We are aware that some Israelis can face additional structural challenges, particularly Arab Israelis including in Jisr al-Zarqa, who experience higher rates of poverty and unemployment and who can face discrimination. As a friend to Israel, we have also expressed our concern in cases where Israeli laws could undermine the equality of members of minority groups, particularly the Nation State Basic Law of 2017. We encourage the Israeli government to do all it can to uphold the values of equality for all enshrined in its laws.

Iyad Hallaq

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that the government of Israel does not have sufficient evidence to convict those who killed Eyad Al-Hallaq, and (2) that no footage has been recovered of the incident from the CCTV cameras or mobile phones in the area.

baroness sugg: As the UK Consul General in Jerusalem and the UK Ambassador in Tel Aviv stated on 31 May, we were deeply saddened to hear about the death of Iyad Khairi Hallaq after he was shot by Israeli police in East Jerusalem. We urge restraint in the use of live fire by the Israel Defense Forces. As we outlined at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East on 21 July, in instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we have advocated swift, transparent investigations and if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account. The perpetual cycle of violence must end.

UN Interim Force in Lebanon

baroness deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of efforts by Hezbollah and the government of Lebanon to impede the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from carrying out its mandate; and what steps they have taken to raise this at the UN Security Council.

baroness sugg: The UK remains concerned by Hizballah's activities within Lebanon which are in clear breach of UN Security Council Resolutions 1509 and 1701. We regularly raise our concerns at the UN Security Council, and call on all parties to abide by the provisions of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

Israel: Lebanon

baroness deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of increased tensions along the Israel–Lebanon border and the readiness of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to mediate effectively between the governments of Israel and Lebanon as well as to diffuse any increase in hostilities.

baroness sugg: We are aware of reports of increased tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. The UK condemns all violations of UN Security Council Resolutions 1509 and 1701, and call for all sides to adhere to the relevant resolutions. We welcome United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's efforts to mediate between parties and decrease tensions.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports of the construction of (1) a new settlement near Asira a-Shamaliya on land owned by Palestinians, and (2) earthworks by Israeli armed forces preventing Palestinians from reaching their farmland.

baroness sugg: We consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution, including settlement expansion and restrictions on freedom of movement within the West Bank, including to and from East Jerusalem. The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten they physical viability of a two-state solution. We urge Israel to halt settlement expansion immediately. We continue to stress to the Israeli authorities the damage that their restrictions on movement, access and trade are doing to the living standards of ordinary Palestinians. We are encouraging both sides to maintain calm and avoid taking actions which make peace more difficult to achieve.

Israel: Coronavirus

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the Supreme Court of Israel's ruling that prisoners in Gilboa prison have no right to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness sugg: We remain concerned by the impact that COVID-19 could have on prisoners and detainees. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. This includes the increased risk due to lack of hygiene, proper ventilation, population density and issues of due process. We continue to call for steps to be taken that will reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in prisons whilst simultaneously respecting fundamental human rights.

Nigeria: Violence

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the killing of ten people, (2) the injury of others, and (3) the destruction of homes, during an attack by armed assailants on Zikpak, Nigeria, on 24 July; and how (1) UK aid, and (2) diplomatic influence, is being used (a) to protect vulnerable minorities, and (b) to addressany escalationin attacks in Nigeria.

baroness sugg: The UK Government condemns all incidents of intercommunal violence in Nigeria, including a recently reported attack in Zikpak, Kaduna State on 24 July. There are many underlying causes to intercommunal violence in Nigeria, which include disputes over natural resources and competition over land exacerbated by climate change and population growth. The British High Commissioner and her team are increasing their diplomatic engagement with states affected by intercommunal violence, including Kaduna state. Officials from the British High Commission are engaging with State Governments, faith and community leaders, peacebuilding organisations, the Federal Government and others. The FCO co-hosted a conference at Wilton Park in February on Fostering Social Cohesion in Nigeria, which brought together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss the complex causes of intercommunal violence. Discussions helped to form recommendations to tackle intercommunal violence in affected states in Nigeria. The Minister for Africa discussed intercommunal violence with the Nigerian President's Chief of Staff in June.The UK is also providing technical support to the Nigerian Government for the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. The plan aims to promote cattle-rearing in one place, rather than the traditional nomadic practice, to limit competition over land and resources leading to violence.We will continue to encourage the Government of Nigeria to take urgent action to protect those at risk of intercommunal violence, to bring perpetrators to justice and to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes and meet the needs of all communities.

Nigeria: Homicide

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that at least 80 people have been killed in July in southern Kaduna, and (2) that 620 Christians have been killed in theregion in the last 18 months;and what they consider to be the major reason for these attacks.

baroness sugg: The UK Government condemns all incidents of intercommunal violence in Nigeria, including reported attacks in southern Kaduna State. We are concerned by a recent increase in attacks in the state. These attacks have had devastating effects on communities of all faiths, including Christian communities. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians and human rights for all. There are many underlying causes to intercommunal violence in Nigeria, which include disputes over natural resources and competition over land exacerbated by climate change and population growth. Religious identity is also a factor in some incidents of intercommunal violence, but we do not assess it to be the principal driver of the violence.

Nigeria: Christianity

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the statement by the Rt Rev Abiodun Ogunyemi, the Anglican Bishop of Zaria, on 24 July, that the campaign against Christians in Nigeria is a “genocide”, and (2) the responsibilities of (a) the government of Kaduna State, (b) the government of Nigeria, and (c) the international community, under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of Genocide; what plans they have to reassess the causes of the attacks against Christians in Nigeria; and whether any such plans will discount climate change as the major cause of such attacks.

baroness sugg: We are aware of the statement made by the Right Reverend Abiodun Ogunyemion on 24 July. The UK Government condemns all incidents of intercommunal violence in Nigeria, including the recently reported attacks in Kaduna State referred to in the Bishop's statement. Intercommunal violence in Kaduna State and Nigeria more widely affects communities of all faiths. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians and human rights for all.It is UK Government policy not to unilaterally determine whether genocide has occurred, in line with the Genocide Convention. This is a matter for competent courts and tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, after consideration of all the evidence, rather than governments or non-judicial bodies.The UK Government's assessment remains that climate change is one of the drivers of intercommunal violence in Nigeria because of the resulting competition for natural resources. The Bishop of Truro also considered the effects of climate change on intercommunal violence in Nigeria in his independent report on the global persecution of Christians.

China: Uighurs

lord collins of highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to respond to the recommendations of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales report, Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published 22 July.

baroness sugg: We are aware of the Bar Human Rights Committee report published on 22 July and are carefully considering its findings. As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We have repeatedly urged China to live up to its international obligations and raised our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council where we delivered a joint statement on behalf of 27 other countries on 30 June.

China: International Law

lord collins of highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support independent, impartial and international mechanisms to investigate any violation by the government of China of its obligations and responsibilities under international law.

baroness sugg: As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We have repeatedly urged China to live up to its international obligations and raised our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council where we delivered a joint statement on behalf of 27 other countries on 30 June. We have also repeatedly called for China to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights meaningful access to the region, including on 30 June at the UN Human Rights Council.

Mubarak Bala

baroness whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeriaabout(1) the detention ofMubarak Bala, and (2) reports that the detention has included no contact with the detainee's (a) family, or (b) legal representatives.

baroness sugg: The UK Government is monitoring Mr Bala's case closely. We continue to stress to the Government of Nigeria the importance of a transparent investigation that respects Mr Bala's human rights, the rule of law, and the Nigerian constitutional right to freedom of religion or belief. Our High Commission in Abuja discussed the case with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police after Mr Bala's arrest. James Duddridge (Minister for Africa) raised Mr Bala's case directly with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs on 21 May.We welcome the recent magistrate court order instructing the police to allow Mr Bala access to legal representation. We call on the relevant authorities to ensure that the order is followed, and that Mr Bala's family are permitted visiting rights in line with local law and current Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Defending freedom of religion or belief for all remains a UK Government policy priority and we will continue to use our voice internationally to protect this human right.

Nigeria: Violence

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Nigeria about the prosecution of those responsible for (1) killings of, and (2) violent attacks against, Christians in Nigeria; how many Fulani people have been prosecuted for any such attacks; and what steps they are taking, through UK aid programmes, to assist with(a) upholding the rule of law, (b) the protection of minorities, and (c)supporting affected communities in Nigeria.

baroness sugg: The UK Government condemns all killings and incidents of violence against innocent Nigerian civilians, including terrorist attacks in North East Nigeria and incidents of intercommunal violence in the Middle-Belt. These attacks have had devastating effects on communities of all faiths, including Christian communities. We continue to encourage the Government of Nigeria to take action to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice. Prosecutions of those responsible, who come from a range of ethnic and religious backgrounds, is primarily a matter for the Nigerian State.In the North East of Nigeria, the UK is supporting efforts to tackle the terrorist threat and providing a comprehensive package of security, stabilisation and humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by the conflict. In the Middle Belt, the British High Commissioner and her team are increasing their diplomatic engagement with states affected by intercommunal violence. The UK Government is also providing technical support to the Nigerian Government for the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. The plan aims to promote cattle-rearing in one place, rather than the traditional nomadic practice, to limit competition over land and resources leading to violence.The Prime Minister discussed insecurity in Nigeria with President Buhari at the UK Africa Investment Summit in January. More recently, the Minister for Africa discussed intercommunal violence in Nigeria with President Buhari's Chief of Staff, on 29 June. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, human rights and upholding the rule of law.

South Sudan: Press Freedom

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessmentthey havemade of (1) the freedom of the press in South Sudan, and (2) the case of Peter Biar Ajak.

baroness sugg: Freedom of expression has an essential role to play in the establishment of peace and stability in South Sudan. We are deeply concerned at any closing of political space and restrictions on freedom of expression in the country, both for activists and for local and international journalists. This is incompatible with the Government of South Sudan's expressed desire to see a successful resolution to the nation's crises. We continue to lobby the Government of South Sudan to ensure that journalists, human rights activists and civil society are free to operate without fear of retribution. Through our Media Freedom Campaign we are providing support to journalists inside the country including continued funding for local media associationsThe UK lobbied the Government of South Sudan on political detainees including during Peter Biar's imprisonment in 2018-19. This included calling for due process, access to legal representation and for his release from detention as part of the 2018 peace agreement. We welcomed his eventual release alongside other prisoners in January and are aware of his recent arrival in the US. Our officials remain in contact with him.

South Sudan: Violence

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of intercommunal violence in South Sudan.

baroness sugg: There has been a recent rise in severe violence in several states in South Sudan resulting in killings, displacement and disruption to livelihoods and humanitarian access. Severe violence is tipping South Sudan into further humanitarian crisis with 6.5 million people already facing acute food insecurity, many in areas recently devastated by flooding and facing the possibility of new locust swarms. In Jonglei alone, 157,000 people have been displaced since February this year and an estimated 87,000 people are in need of urgent assistance. The violence in Jonglei and other parts of South Sudan underlines that, despite the 2018 peace agreement and a reduction in overall political conflict, many South Sudanese continue to live with terrible violence. South Sudan's best chance of a more stable and prosperous future remains the full implementation of the peace agreement.The creation of a peace committee by Presidential decree is a welcome step, but it and the Government of South Sudan need to act urgently to stop violence, facilitate humanitarian access and ensure ceasefire monitors are enabled to conduct accurate and timely investigations. Our Ambassador and other officials continue to meet the most senior representatives of the Government of South Sudan to urge action. The UK will continue to promote efforts to halt the violence, address the root causes of conflict and build lasting peace.

Rania Elias and Suhail Khoury

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the detention of Rania Elias and Suhail Khoury; and what plans they have to raise those detentions with international partners.

baroness sugg: Our Consul General in Jerusalem has publicly expressed his concern. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees. We also continue to support the Palestinian cultural presence and identity in East Jerusalem, as well as Palestinian physical presence there.

Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review; with whom they have consulted about that Review;and whenthey estimate that Review to be completed.

baroness sugg: The Government paused its Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy in April due to the pressing need to focus on COVID-19. We have formally recommenced the Review, building on the work done since the Review was first launched in February.Our aim continues to be for an ambitious and bold Integrated Review that is guided by the UK's foreign policy and national security objectives.We will be engaging with Parliament, the Devolved Administrations, external experts and wider stakeholders with an interest in our nation's security and prosperity. This includes our allies and partners, building on our ongoing dialogue on COVID-19 response and recovery.The Government will conduct targeted engagement that will bring crucial external voices and expertise to bear in defining our ambition for the UK's role in the world and setting the country on the best possible trajectory for the future.The Integrated Review will remain closely aligned with the Comprehensive Spending Review, to ensure that departments are equipped with the resources they need to enact the Integrated Review's conclusions. The Comprehensive Spending Review will be published in the autumn.

Department of Health and Social Care

Dementia: Coronavirus

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what plans, if any, they have to include dementia on the list of illnesses for which someone should shield themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Expert doctors in England have identified specific medical conditions that, based on what we knew about the virus so far, place someone at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19. These were signed off by the United Kingdom Senior Clinicians Group, including the four UK Chief Medical Officers and clinical leadership at NHS England and NHS Improvement, NHS Digital and Public Health England. The list of conditions is kept under review and there are no plans at present to add dementia to it.

Coronavirus: Screening

lord mann: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have had an antibody test to test for previous COVID-19 infection; and of those, how many had antibodies.

lord bethell: On 21 May the Government announced plans for a national roll-out of antibody testing in the National Health Service and social care sector, where, as of 19 July, over 1.31 million COVID-19 antibody tests have been carried out. Information is provided on GOV.UK in an online only format which explains how these tests are counted. Any additional information regarding the results of the results of the tests will be made available at the appropriate time.

Dental Services: Coronavirus

baroness harris of richmond: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it was within the Chief Dental Officer for England's remit to instruct all dental practices to cease face to face consultations when the restrictions for the COVID-19 pandemic were introduced.

lord bethell: NHS England and NHS Improvement published guidance on 25 March 2020 instructing all general dental services and community dental services to suspend routine care and all face to face urgent care, unless delivered through an urgent dental centre. As the commissioner of National Health Service dental services, it is NHS England and NHS Improvement’s responsibility to make decisions on provision of the NHS services it commissions. Decisions are made by NHS England and NHS Improvement as a whole taking into account both clinical and commissioner advice.

Contact Tracing: Coronavirus

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that over 20 per cent of those traced by the NHS COVID-19 test, track and trace system could not be reached, what plans they have to adjust thesystem to take into account the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies' advice that the threshold for effectiveness per index case is 80per cent.

lord bethell: The Government launched its NHS Test and Trace service on 28 May 2020 to control the rate of reproduction (R), reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.The contact tracing process starts as soon as NHS Test and Trace receive notification that someone has tested positive for COVID-19. The NHS Test and Trace service contacts people by text message, email or phone, including sending reminder messages and calls. We are reaching the close contacts of thousands of positive cases, where their contact details are known by the positive index case, and we are encouraged by the progress so far and user feedback.Data published on 9 July shows that since 28 May, 75.7% (23,796) of people who tested positive (and had their case transferred to NHS Test and Trace) were reached and asked to provide contact details of recent, close contacts. Of the contacts identified through NHS Test and Trace, 85.1% (144,501) were reached and advised to self-isolate. Work is ongoing to understand, evaluate and continuously improve the test and trace programme and its effectiveness.

Prisons: Hepatitis

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) testing, and (2) treatment, for hepatitis C continues in prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: We recognise that the need to focus on COVID-19 response across prison establishments has had an adverse impact on the number of people in prisons tested and able to access treatment for hepatitis C.NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently working proactively with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service partners and other key stakeholders on a programme of restoration and recovery of key services. As Blood Borne Virus testing forms part of the Public Health Section 7a agreement with Public Health England, this work is being prioritised.It is anticipated a full resumption of the hepatitis C elimination programme will take place from October 2020.

NHS: Computer Software

lord strasburger: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish the most recent contracts between NHS England and (1) Palantir, (2) Faculty, (3) Google, and (4) Amazon, which relate to the NHS COVID-19 Data Store.

lord bethell: The contract with Palantir will be published in the usual way in due course. The Faculty contract is being negotiated for extension and the contract will be published in the usual way in due course. NHS England does not own a contract with Google or Amazon regarding the NHS COVID-19 Data Store.

NHS: Computer Software

lord strasburger: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish anethics board to oversee the NHS COVID-19 Data Store.

lord bethell: NHS England is the sole controller of data held within the NHS COVID-19 Data Store and for any data legally shared with them under the notice issued by the Secretary of State under the NHS Control of Patient Information (COPI) Regulations 2002. The notices allow permitted organisations, under Regulation 3(3) of the COPI regulations, to process data only for COVID-19 related purposes. The Department has no plans to establish an ethics board for the NHS COVID-19 Data Store.

Gender Recognition: Children

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 31 July 2019 (HL15681), when they estimate that the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust will publish the data collated as part of its study into early pubertal suppression in a group of adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

lord bethell: The paper produced from this study was submitted for publication earlier this year and has now been subject to peer review. It is expected to be published shortly.

Neurology

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to improve the prioritisation of inpatient services for neurological conditions, and (2) to promote the delivery of treatment in outpatient settings where that is clinically preferable.

lord bethell: The National Neurosciences Advisory Group, supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement, has been working with the Neuro Intelligence Collaborative (NIC) on projects which include investigating the hospitalisation of people with acute neurology and establishing a profile of their interactions and length of stay in hospital. The NIC’s aim is to identify gaps in neurological service and develop recommendations for change.In addition to this, NHS England works with national bodies such as Public Health England and patient organisations such as the Neurological Alliance, to raise awareness and support improvement in outcomes for people living with neurological conditions. NHS England supports local transformation through their national programmes - NHS RightCare has published a number of intelligence tools and resources to support reduction in unwarranted variation in neurology services.

Carers: Learning Disability

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what supportthey have offered to carers of adults with learning disabilities during the COVID-19 outbreak.

lord bethell: We recognise the crucial role unpaid carers play caring for those with learning disabilities, especially at this time. We commissioned the Social Care Institute of Excellence to develop a hub of resources for paid and unpaid carers of people with learning disabilities and/or autism. The guidance is available in an online only format and covers topics such as social distancing, advance care planning and staying well.We have also published guidance in an online only format for unpaid carers, which includes advice on infection control, and links to information and support, and we have provided funding to extend Carers UK’s information and advice service.To help unpaid carers continue to claim Carer’s Allowance if they need to self-isolate, we made temporary amendments so that emotional support counts towards the 35 hours a week threshold.We continue to work with carers organisations to identify further solutions to support carers.

Social Services: Coronavirus

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Social Workers Union about the results of its survey which estimates that one third of social workers are now considering leaving the profession as a result of the deterioration in working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they are taking in response.

lord bethell: We are committed to providing ongoing support to social workers so that they are safe, supported, valued and able to continue the exceptional work they do. We continue to support local authorities and other social work employers to meet their duties regarding social work workforce planning and sharing best practice in recruiting, retaining and developing staff.There are currently 98,000 registered social workers across the country, of whom 363 were surveyed by the Social Workers Union. The Chief Social Workers for Adults continue to have regular conversations with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the British Association of Social Workers, Social Work England and Principal Social Workers across the country and have ensured concerns are responded to as soon as they arise.

Health and Social Services: Protective Clothing

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure an adequate supply of personal protective equipment for health, social care and other key workers to prepare for any second wave of COVID-19.

lord bethell: We continue to model future demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) to cover a range of possible scenarios, working closely with the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies to ensure it is underpinned by the latest science. Though the global market remains challenging, we continue to sign further deals to make our position more secure. We have now procured over 30 billion items of PPE from United Kingdom manufacturers and overseas suppliers.We are confident in the stocks and sources of supply of PPE to meet the needs of health and social care over the next seven and 90 days and are increasingly looking further ahead. We have moved from an emergency situation a few months ago to a stable situation which allows us to prepare with resilience for any second spike or a new wave in the autumn or winter.

Diagnosis

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish an industry-wide consultative committee to promote a global-scale UK diagnostics sector.

lord bethell: The Government is working with the life sciences sector to strengthen United Kingdom resilience by developing proposals to build a long-term national diagnostics industry, and by exploring how the National Health Service market can make better use of innovative diagnostics.We have also established the Accelerated Access Collaborative which brings together leaders from across industry, the NHS, regulators and the Government to get innovations, including the best new diagnostics, into the hands of patients and clinicians faster than ever before.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) plans, and (2) preparations, they are making for any second wave of COVID-19.

lord bethell: The Government has now developed testing capacity to around 300,000 tests per day across in preparation for any second wave. We will constantly monitor demand, including anticipating winter pressures, and scale up the contact tracing workforce if needed.We are also planning for the next phase of testing: ensuring our testing is as effective as possible in containing the virus, and building resilience for the long-term, especially ahead of winter. We plan further increases through the summer and into the autumn through a combination of improvements to existing labs and new partnerships. Increasing our testing capacity will further support the NHS Test and Trace system by allowing widespread testing of those suspected to be infected with COVID-19 and their contacts and enable the deployment of additional testing capacity to respond to local outbreaks.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support people who are shielding (1) who have been advised by their clinicians to continue shielding, and (2) whose workplaces arenot safe to return to, after 1 August.

lord bethell: All employers have been asked to work with the Government to ease the transition back to a more normal way of life for their clinically extremely vulnerable employees. Employers and employees should start having these conversations as early as possible before the guidance is changed on 1 August. At this time, the Government does not advise clinically extremely vulnerable individuals to attend their place of work if this requires them to leave their home. From 1 August those shielding who are unable to work from home but can work on site, should do so, provided the business is COVID-safe.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the publication of Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy in May,what plans they have to introduce the “more differentiated approach to risk” for people who are shieldingif the COVID-19 infection rate increases.

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government to what level the COVID-19 infection rate would need to rise for shielding to be re-introduced (1) locally, and (2) nationally.

lord bethell: We are working with a consortium of leading academics and the National Health Service to develop a new risk assessment tool that will allow us to better judge the risk that individuals face from COVID-19. This means that if the shielding policy needs to be started again in the event of an increase in the COVID-19 infection rate or in local lockdowns, we will be able to better target interventions and have a much stronger scientific basis for our approach to risk management for those most at risk. There is no predetermined infection rate at which shielding may be reintroduced. Any decision to restart shielding would be based on clinical advice at the time taking into account the particular circumstances. We are keeping this under constant review.

Blood Cancer: Coronavirus

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were (1) added to, and (2) removed from, the shielding list in (a) April, (b) May, and (c) June; and of those, how many have blood cancer.

lord bethell: The information requested on people on the shielded patients list is shown in the following table. AprilMayJuneAdditions979,484569,51644,921Deductions4,700178,43933,832Source: Shielded Patients List, NHS DigitalPeople who have been diagnosed with blood cancer are not separately identifiable on the shielded patients list.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they aretaking to promote the manufacture of personal protective equipment in the UK.

lord bethell: Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s effort to unleash the potential of British industry to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health and social care sectors. This will maximise opportunities for United Kingdom-based companies to fulfil orders of PPE.We are building up UK manufacturing with signed contracts to manufacture and supply over three billion items of PPE through UK-based manufacturers, including facemasks, visors, gowns and aprons.

Coronavirus: Screening

lord turnberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of limited home testing for COVID-19, what plans they have to simplify the requirements involved in taking a test.

lord bethell: Everyone with symptoms of COVID-19 is eligible for a test, but we know that certain groups or individuals may find access more difficult or be less likely to want to access a test or feel unable to self-isolate. This could be for a combination of reasons, from capability through to personal circumstance. We are working on a number of policies to address these barriers, such as: - the NHS 119 call centre uses the Language Line interpreter service and staff are trained to manage language barriers, including through use of this service;- we have opened new ‘walk in’ local testing centres to make it easier for people without cars to get a test; and- we are also conducting a targeted evaluation of asymptomatic workers in several high contact professions. In a number of these occupations such as taxi drivers, cleaners and retail assistants, there is high representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. This evaluation is intended to help us learn more about who may be at higher risk from COVID-19 and how to help keep people in professions that come into greater contact with others safe. We have also created a home testing programme that provides access to testing to anyone, anywhere in the United Kingdom. We are continuously improving the service so that testing is accessible to all. This includes working with a diverse range of organisations to help us making home as easy to access and as user friendly as possible. For example, we are currently working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to make home testing services more accessible for the visually impaired.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) social, (2) economic, and (3) demographic, trends they have identified among those who have not been successfully traced via the NHS Test and Trace system; and what plans they have to implement measures to (a) target specific groups, and (b) use different methods of communication, to ensure that underrepresented groups are contact-traced.

lord bethell: The Contact Tracing Advisory Service is undertaking work to evaluate valid postcodes gathered through the service and are broken down across a range of trends to cover social, economic, and demographic factors, including includes analysis of valid and non-valid postcodes.The service conducts research across different communities, including those hard to reach and areas of multiple deprivation; in order to understand the customer experience and difficulties encountered when engaging with it to continually improve the service.

Gender Recognition

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 17 July (HL5874), what informationthey hold on (1)the number of children who have been given GnHR, or any other gender re-assignment treatment, by the NHS, (2)the amount of compensationpaid to patients who received such treatments but who were subsequently deemed to have been mis-diagnosed, and (3) the number ofcompensation claimsmade following such treatments.

lord bethell: The National Health Service currently offers the following medical treatments to under 18-year olds on gender dysphoria pathways: hormone blockers, cross sex hormones and psychological assessment. The service does not offer surgery to under 18-year olds.   Information on the number of children who have been prescribed GnHR is not available centrally, as information on prescribing drugs is collected locally. Further, the drugs used in gender identity pathways are not exclusively prescribed for such, meaning records do not reflect total patient numbers on these pathways. Information on number of treatments and misdiagnosis is not available in the format requested.

Pregnancy: Sodium Valproate

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement byLord Bethell on 15 July (HL Deb, col 1738) that “the Primodos case is subject to legal dispute, so I cannot comment on it from the Dispatch Box”, which aspects of that legal dispute prevent an independent re-examination of the contested conclusions of the report by the Expert Working Group of the UK’s Commission on Human Medicines Report of the Commission on Human Medicines’ Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests, published on 15 November 2017.

lord bethell: The Commission on Human Medicines Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests was an independent group convened to conduct a scientific review of the evidence for an association between the use of hormone pregnancy tests and adverse outcomes of pregnancy. The report and all the evidence that was reviewed by the Group has been publicly available since November 2017. We cannot discuss specific issues regarding the litigation, but this does not prevent any re-examination of the report or evidence. Any relevant new evidence would be reviewed as it becomes available. We are carefully considering the recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review and will respond in due course.

NHS: Negligence

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can provide the information set out in figure 5 on page 50 of the NHS Resolution annual report and accounts 2019/20, published on 16 July, in respect of clinical negligence cases only.

lord bethell: NHS Resolution handles clinical negligence claims on behalf of National Health Service organisations and independent sector providers of NHS care in England.NHS Resolution has provided information on the number of clinical negligence claims settled in 2018/19 and 2019/20 with or without damages, which is attached due to the size of the data.



Clinical negligence claims data 2018-2020
(Word Document, 19.83 KB)

Mental Health Services: Young People

lord hay of ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the treatmentofyoung people with mental health conditions.

lord bethell: We remain committed to investing at least £2.3 billion of extra funding a year into mental health services by 2023-24 through the NHS Long Term Plan. This funding underpins our aim for an additional 345,000 children and young people able to access support through National Health Service-funded services or school and college-based mental health support teams.We also remain committed to delivering the core proposals of Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision: a green paper, including the introduction of senior leads in mental health and mental health support teams in schools and colleges, as well as the piloting of a four-week waiting time for specialist NHS services, so that there is swifter access for those children and young people that need it.

Mental Health: Prescription Drugs

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government howmany prescriptions have been issued for (1) antidepressants, (2) anxiolytics, (3) sedatives and hypnotics, and (4) antipsychotics, in each month from April to June 2020; and how these figures compare with the same month last year.

lord bethell: The information requested is provided by the NHS Business Services Authority in the following tables. Number of itemsMonth and YearAntidepressantsAnxiolyticsBarbiturates and HypnoticsAntipsychoticsApril 20196,035,028518,035679,4451,010,050May 20196,450,150553,508716,2591,073,853June 20196,017,455511,088661,1511,002,933  Number of itemsMonth and YearAntidepressantsAnxiolyticsBarbiturates and HypnoticsAntipsychoticsApril 20206,481,166521,162692,1601,119,597May 20206,244,952490,061659,2331,051,130June 2020Not yet availableNot yet availableNot yet availableNot yet available Notes: The time periods covered are April 2020 – May 2020 and April 2019 – June 2019 inclusive for comparison.The term ‘items’ refers to the number of times a product appears on a prescription form, and not the quantity prescribed. The NHS Business Services Authority does not have enough information to determine if a prescription is ‘new’ for a particular patient.Any secondary indications or unlicensed uses of any of these medicines will not be apparent from the data.The data provided is for prescriptions prescribed and dispensed in England only.The data provided is based on English dispensed prescription that were processed by the NHS Business Services Authority; excluding items ‘not dispensed’, ‘disallowed’ and ‘items referred back to the contractor for further clarification’. Items prescribed but not presented for dispensing or not submitted to NHS Business Services Authority by the dispenser are also excluded.

NHS: Dental Services

baroness gardner of parkes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the availability of National Health Service dental treatment for patients of all ages.

lord bethell: National Health Service dental practices were able to restart face-to-face care from 8 June, with the aim of increasing levels of service for all patients, as fast as is safely possible, taking into account Public Health England guidance and continued infection risks.Urgent dental care centres remain open to support the provision of urgent and emergency face-to-face care for dental patients and patients will be referred to urgent dental care centres, where needed locally.

Coronavirus: Vitamin D

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they plan to take in response to the reportby Aging Clinical Experimental ResearchThe role of vitamin D in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality,published on 6 May.

lord bethell: Public Health England (PHE) supported the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to review emerging evidence on vitamin D and the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. NICE’s review, published in June 2020, concluded that there is currently no evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk or severity of COVID-19.PHE re-issued its advice on vitamin D supplementation early in April 2020; whilst stay at home measures were in place it was recommended that everyone take a daily vitamin D supplement to keep bones and muscles healthy.A copy of the NICE evidence review Vitamin D for COVID-19 is attached. 



Vitamin D for COVID-19
(PDF Document, 826.98 KB)

Department for International Development

Detention Centres: Refugees

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, and intend to have, with UNHCR and other governments and agencies, about (1) the resettlement of refugees and migrants, and (2)preventing existing refugee camps and detention centres becoming permanent.

baroness sugg: The UK maintains an ongoing dialogue with UNHCR and a range of other partners, including other governments and agencies, and has a strong and constructive relationship across a range of asylum and resettlement issues.Our resettlement schemes offer a safe and legal route to the UK for vulnerable refugees in need of protection. We work closely with UNHCR in the operation of our schemes. UNHCR is uniquely placed to identify those living in formal refugee camps, informal settlements and host communities who would benefit most from resettlement to the UK.Refugee camps provide vital humanitarian assistance including shelter, food, clean water, and sanitation and medical services, but can also limit movement and longer-term options for refugees. As such, they are normally considered temporary measures of last resort. While camps provide a vital lifeline for many refugees a relatively small number (around 5.3 million refugees) live in them, with the majority in urban areas, informal settlements and out-of-camp individual accommodation.We actively engaged in agreeing the Global Compact on Refugees, which aims to boost refugees’ self-reliance while simultaneously supporting generous host communities and countries – an approach that the UK has helped to develop and champion.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ethical implications of the creation of emergency funds by multinational corporations to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness sugg: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a severe impact on those who work in and supply global value chains. 292 million jobs in manufacturing supply chains are at high risk globally due to the COVID-19-related drop in consumer demand. These include 73 million in textiles and garment supply chains – a critical source of labour demand for many of the poorest and most vulnerable workers globally.Multinational corporations have significant reach and can have a positive impact on their supply chains. DFID is partnering with Unilever to deploy a Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition to combat COVID-19 where our support is matched in-kind from Unilever. DFID is also supportive of initiatives such as the ILO/IUTC Action in the Global Garment Industry that encourages good practice. We also support the efforts of organisations like the Ethical Trading Initiative and Fairtrade Foundation, who work with companies to ensure good working conditions in their supply chains. Finally, DFID has provided funding to the Business and COVID-19 Response Centre, which is working to accelerate global learning and action to support the most vulnerable people in companies’ supply chains.

Overseas Aid

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what management and oversight precautions, if any, they are putting in place to (1) increase accountability of aid spending; and (2) prevent non-attributable day-to-day spending being re-badged as aid.

baroness sugg: The Government is committed to ensuring that every pound spent on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) achieves maximum value for money for taxpayers based on the same high standards of accountability and effectiveness as all areas of public expenditure. Individual departments are responsible under public spending rules for monitoring all public money including their UK aid programming and ensuring that they deliver value for money. Robust parliamentary and independent scrutiny of the aid budget will continue – the form that Parliamentary scrutiny takes is for Parliament to decide. UK ODA continues to be spent in accordance with international rules on what constitutes aid as set by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Africa: Overseas Aid

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in redirecting aid programmes in each relevant country in Africa through (1) their country programmes, (2) multilateral programmes, and (3) the World Food Programme; and for full details in each case.

baroness sugg: Many bilateral and multilateral aid programmes across Africa have been redirected, prioritising health, humanitarian, growth and trade as well as education and nutrition, recognising that these components are vital both for the immediate response to COVID-19, and for longer-term recovery. The UK has successfully pivoted huge amounts of programming to support nimble and innovative responses in African countries.For example, in South Sudan, the UK is making a significant contribution to government-led efforts to prevent and respond to cases of COVID-19, including through support for infection prevention and control as well as water, sanitation and hygiene activities. The UK’s flagship Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme (WISH) has been adapted in 24 countries across Africa to ensure the continuation of lifesaving services to marginalised women and girls despite COVID-19. Multilaterally, £20m has been provided towards the African Union’s new COVID-19 response plan which funds and deploys health workers, clinical equipment, and capacity building training to all 55 AU Member States. In 2020, DFID has so far provided USD 254million to support the World Food Programme’s operations – this includes a USD 19million contribution to The World Food Programme’s Global Services in response to COVID-19.

Overseas Aid: Africa

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the extensive flooding across East Africa and the Horn of Africa in the context of the UK aid programme.

baroness sugg: Across East Africa and the Horn of Africa, 25.8 million people are severely food insecure and 1.3 million have been affected by floods since March. The UK has responded to localised flood impacts through the START Network, including provision of relief items and recovery programming.We are deeply concerned about the food security situation. Heavy rains in the region have provided conditions conducive to the unprecedented locust outbreaks, which will affect the food security situation even further. The UK is supporting the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) emergency appeal to help to control the increase of locusts across East Africa, as well as reduce the risk of swarms spreading into the Sahel.The humanitarian situation will be exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. We are urgently redirecting UK aid programmes right across Africa to respond to these compound risks.

Overseas Aid: Females

lord collins of highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Adolescent Girls' Education and Empowerment programme planned by the Department for International Development will still take place.

baroness sugg: The UK Government remains committed to delivering 12 years of quality education for all girls. Education, particularly girls’ education, will remain a top priority in the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and a priority for the Prime Minister personally. In my role as Special Envoy for Girls’ Education, I am working to accelerate progress towards getting marginalised girls into schools, staying there and staying safe, and benefitting from quality learning. I am working closely with international partners to encourage greater global ambition, coordination, and investment on girls’ education.

Overseas Aid

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the diversion of 30 per cent of Official Development Assistance budget to departments other than the Department for International Development on (1) support for the poorest people, (2) the maintenance of transparency and effectiveness procedures, and (3) maintaining focus on poverty reduction.

baroness sugg: The 2015 Aid Strategy set out the Government’s new approach to aid where we embraced an integrated approach to delivering Official Development Assistance (ODA). This recognised the role of aid in tackling poverty and global challenges such as insecurity and that this serves our national interest. The delivery of ODA programmes by departments other than DFID has enabled us to leverage knowledge, skills and expertise from across government, delivering programmes that contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals and addressing the diversity of today’s development challenges. This collective effort has allowed our ODA programmes to deliver both strong development impact. The Government remains committed to ensuring that every pound spent on ODA is spent transparently and achieves maximum value for money for taxpayers.

Haiti: Overseas Aid

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Department for International Development’s involvement in Haiti, givenreports by the community and international agencies of the continuing levels of poverty, unrest, sexual exploitation and abuse.

baroness sugg: While the UK does not have a bilateral development programme in Haiti, we support Haiti through our contributions to agencies such as the United Nations, European Union and the World Bank Group who have a strong presence on the ground. Our contributions are helping to make sure reconstruction reduces future disaster risks, health facilities are more climate resilient and the economy is better managed and supported. DFID holds itself to the highest standards and UK Aid must be delivered at all times in ways which do no harm. We will not fund any organisation that does not meet our high standards on safeguarding. Evidence suggests that sexual exploitation and abuse increase during crises and we must never be complacent. This is a long-term agenda and DFID continues to drive work to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. We are making good progress with initiatives that root out perpetrators and improve support to survivors and victims.

CDC: Overseas Aid

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the reduction in actual Official Development Assistance,what plans they have tore-focus money given to the Commonwealth Development Corporation on poverty, including education and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

baroness sugg: CDC invests in the poorest countries in Africa and South Asia to support the growth of companies that create employment, help transform economies, and improve people’s lives, through the goods and services they produce and the local taxes they generate. In 2019, the businesses into which CDC is invested employed 875,790 people; sourced from 1.84 million farmers; and paid $3.3 billion in local taxes.As part of its ODA prioritisation process, the Government looked across its ODA programming including CDC. We are investing significantly less capital into CDC than originally planned at the start of the year. Funding will be focused on ensuring that CDC continues to take a targeted response that preserves, strengthens and helps rebuild economies across Africa and South Asia to mitigate the economic and health impacts of Covid-19. Funding originally earmarked for CDC will be re-purposed to ensure we can continue to focus on delivering for the bottom billion including by prioritising girls’ education, climate change, essential health, sexual and reproductive health rights, while also responding to Covid-19.

Humanitarian Aid: Food Supply

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme FAO–WFP early warning analysis of acute food insecurity hotspots, published on 17 July, and in particular of the recommendation to preserve and scale up critical humanitarian food, nutrition and livelihood assistance.

baroness sugg: We welcome this joint report and the recommendations made as they promote a comprehensive approach to tackling food insecurity. The FAO-WFP early warning analysis highlights countries that are at risk of significant food security deterioration, including the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and aims to inform urgent action to safeguard the food security of the most vulnerable communities in these locations.The UK is working with international partners, including FAO and WFP, to closely monitor the situation and take action. As a leading donor to the COVID-19 response we are supporting our partners to ensure essential commodities and services, and pre-position food supplies for those most in need. We have also adapted our existing social protection, agriculture, and food security programmes, including support to the FAO on locust control, to support the most vulnerable.

Developing Countries: Food Supply

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme on (1) the availability of food, (2) agricultural production, (3) food supply chains, and (4) governments’ capacities to protect vulnerable populations; and what are the expected outcomes of any such discussions.

baroness sugg: The UK is concerned about the increasing risk of acute food insecurity, and we engage regularly with the FAO and WFP to discuss the global food security outlook. Recent discussions have focused on the indirect impacts of COVID-19 on food access and availability, agricultural production and food supply chains, and deteriorating trends.The FAO and WFP regularly update the UK on their responses, in particular under the Global COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP). Efforts have prioritised anticipatory action to safeguard livelihoods and increase access to food, alongside global humanitarian logistics services. These aim to ensure continuity of critical food supply chains, strengthened national social protection systems, and safety of key food supply chain workers. The UK remains among the largest donors to the global COVID-19 response and the GHRP. The UK remains among the largest donors to the global COVID-19 response and the GHRP. We will continue to work closely with key partners to ensure assistance reaches those who need it most.

Uganda: Migrant Camps

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional supportthey have given to the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness sugg: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, DFID has worked with partners like the United Nations World Food Programme to ensure continuity of life-saving services, such as the delivery of food assistance, to the population of Bidibidi, Uganda’s largest refugee settlement. Additionally, we have supported specific programmes in Bidibidi through Mercy Corps, an International Non-Governmental Organisation, including:• a campaign - through public address systems, bulk text messages, posters, song and radio – to raise awareness about prevention of the virus, focused on community “hot spots” including shops, bill boards, markets, water points, and food distribution points;• payments in vouchers or via mobile money to more than 1,850 farmers (57% of whom were women) to purchase high quality seeds from local dealers to ensure they did not miss the planting season; and• support to small businesses to continue, providing access to basic hygiene supplies, agricultural inputs, and mobile money services. The local dealers that were selected to support the seed distribution referred to above received business development training on topics including business plan development, marketing and record keeping, as well as cash grants to strengthen their business.As the pandemic continues to evolve, we are closely monitoring the situation across Uganda, including in the refugee settlements, and prioritising our support accordingly.

Ministry of Justice

Veterans: Prison Sentences

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many armed forces veterans are currently serving a custodial sentence.

lord keen of elie: Since January 2015, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has actively been recording service in the Armed Forces as part of the screening process for newly received prisoners into custody.A breakdown of experimental statistics published in October 2019 indicates that as of 30 June 2019, there were 1,833 prisoners serving a custodial sentence in England and Wales that have declared they have been a member of the armed services.The department is due to release the next estimate of the total number of ex-armed services in October 2020 which will include data as of 30 June 2020.The Ministry of Justice remains committed to encouraging people in the criminal justice system to declare service in the Armed Forces, as early as possible or at any point whist serving their sentence. This enables them to access the support available, whether that is in custody or the community.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many adjudications related to incidences of violence against prison staff there were in each year since 2014; and how many of those incidences resulted in additional days being added to a prisoner's sentence.

lord keen of elie: The prisoner discipline system upholds justice in prisons and ensures incidents of prison rule-breaking have consequences. Only Independent Adjudicators, who are District Judges or Deputy District Judges, can make an award of additional days to a prisoner’s custodial time left to serve.Where an act of violence amounts to a criminal offence, prisoners should be investigated by the police and face serious sanctions. The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 has increased sentencing powers for offences of common assault and battery committed against an emergency worker. This provides Courts with the powers to punish those who commit violent crime against prison staff.The information requested can be found in the table attached.



Excel Spreadsheet
(Excel SpreadSheet, 17.7 KB)

Prisons: Coronavirus

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many prison staff have been tested for COVID-19; and (2) how many prisoners in all prisons have been tested for COVID-19.

lord keen of elie: A testing programme is being conducted to help understand the spread of Coronavirus in prisons and how it is transmitted within individual establishments and across the wider estate began on Monday 20 July.The testing study is taking place across 28 prisons in England and is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Southampton, Public Health England, Department of Health and Social Care and National Audit Office.Every one of the 20,000 prisoners and 10,000 staff at the 28 sites will be invited to carry out an antigen test, consisting of mouth and nose swabs, to see if they currently have the virus. Participation is completely voluntary but we encourage as many as possible to carry out the test. The test will be repeated two more times with a gap of three weeks between each test.This testing study follows a pilot of voluntary testing of both staff and prisoners at HMP Littlehey. This consisted of over 1,000 tests being undertaken and pleasingly no positive results were found.This testing study runs for 9 to 12 weeks to allow all three testing rounds to be completed.Currently, the establishments which have started undertaking this COVID-19 prevalence Testing Programme are: Bure, Coldingley, Drake Hall, Frankland, Gartree, High Down, Leeds, Lewes, New Hall, Norwich, Send, The Mount, Wandsworth and Wealstun.As of 5pm 30th July 2020, there have been 2542 prisoner tests with four positive results. There have been 1571 staff tests with three positive results.With HMPPS staff being able to self-refer for testing the complete number of staff who have been tested for COVID-19 is unknown by HMPPS. While the total number of tests carried out on prisoners since testing began is also unknown, the Ministry of Justice has started publishing a weekly release of Covid-19 related statistics, which includes confirmed COVID-19 cases in prisoners and children in custody. These statistics provide total numbers across England and Wales.The statistics release can be found here each Friday: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hm-prison-and-probation-service-covid-19-statistics

Department for International Trade

Southern Africa: Trade Agreements

lord oates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what contributions they have made to support the implementation of the UK-SACU Economic Partnership Agreement as required under Article 12 of that Agreement.

lord grimstone of boscobel: Britain is working hard to understand the requirements of Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) to implement our Economic Partnership Agreement effectively, which is due to enter into force at the end of the transition period. This is part of a broader programme of £8 million of technical assistance to the region that was announced in August 2018.

Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Charities

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toassess the merits ofsharing details of service personnel leaving the armed forces with veterans' charities.

baroness goldie: Every year around 15,000 Service personnel leave the Armed Forces, with the vast majority making a successful transition back into civilian life without any requirement for additional support, including from Service charities. The Government has no plans to share details of these leavers with the charity sector, given the lack of clear purpose and legal basis for doing so, and recognising the administrative burden it would place on both the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and charities.However, for those Service leavers and veterans who do require support, the MOD’s Veterans’ Welfare Service and Defence Transition Services have a strong collaborative relationship with charities. We regularly work together to share information, when it is appropriate to do so and consent has been given, on behalf of those veterans who do require support.We are committed to ensuring that it is as easy as possible for veterans and their families to access the right support. We are continually exploring ways to enhance and improve collaboration with the third sector and other partners in the interests of veterans.

Armed Forces: Deployment

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many serving members of the UK armed forces are stationed abroad, listed by country of assignment.

baroness goldie: The stationed locations of UK Armed Forces across the globe and within the UK are detailed in the annual statistics published on 9 July 2020. This can be accessed using the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/location-of-uk-regular-service-and-civilian-personnel-annual-statistics-2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/location-of-uk-regular-service-and-civilian-personnel-annual-statistics-2020 Further information on UK Armed Forces stationed abroad is listed on the Excel workbook on sheets 1.1A and 1.1B.  



Annual Location Statistics (ALS)						
(Excel SpreadSheet, 438.17 KB)

Armed Forces: Coronavirus

lord robathan: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 27 July (HL6983), whether any military training establishments, specifically (1) Britannia Royal Naval School Dartmouth, (2)Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and (3) Royal Air Force College Cranwell, have confined all trainees to barracksdue to concerns about COVID-19.

baroness goldie: Britannia Royal Naval School Dartmouth has implemented COVID-19 control measures, including the operation of a restricted leave policy throughout COVID-19, to protect the Royal Navy's training output in line with its Defence commitments and above all, ensure a safe and secure COVID-19 training environment for its staff and trainees, following as far as practicable, PHE guidance at all times.Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) - All Army recruits, including Officer Cadets at RMAS, have been confined to Army barracks at some stage during the HMG directed Covid-19 restricted movement period. Trainees and staff were released to travel home only for emergencies or in exceptional circumstances.RAF College Cranwell - there have been no instances where all personnel at RAFC (Royal Air Force College) Cranwell have been confined to their personal accommodation due to concerns about COVID-19. During the peak of ‘lockdown’ all personnel accommodated at RAFC Cranwell were required to stay at the station, unless there were extenuating circumstances requiring weekend leave. The right to weekend leave was decided on an individual basis.As lockdown restrictions have now eased, personnel are able to visit family and local community facilities, provided that the extant COVID-19 regulations are adhered to.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Prisoners on Remand

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further (1) to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 22 July (HL6637), (2) reports that remand prisoners’ hearing dates are being set for more than 12 months in the future, and (3) the normal time limits relating to such prisoners anticipating returning home, what steps are being taken to ensure that (a) Housing Benefit, and (b) Universal Credit in respect of rent, is being paid to prisoners on remand.

baroness stedman-scott: The Department is routinely notified by Prison Services across England, Wales and Scotland when offenders enter custody, including those on remand. We have specialist teams to identify claimants who are in receipt of either Universal Credit or legacy benefits so that the appropriate action can be taken.

Industrial Health and Safety: Coronavirus

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of COVID-19 likely to have been contracted in the workplace have been reported to theHealth and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic for people working in (1) retail and supermarkets, (2) manufacturing, (3) food production, and (4) public transport in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland, and (d) Scotland.

baroness stedman-scott: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provides the national reporting framework for responsible persons (usually employers in relation to employees) to report certain cases of injury, disease and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive. In relation to the current pandemic, where an individual has contracted COVID - 19 as a direct result of their work, those instances are reportable under RIDDOR either as a disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent (under Regulation 9 (b)) or as a death as a result of occupational exposure to a biological agent under Regulation 6 (2). The table below outlines the number of Covid-19 disease cases reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) between 10 April and 25th July using standard industrial classification coding to identify the number of cases reported for (1) retail and supermarkets (2) manufacturing (3) food production, and (4) public transport in (a) England (b) Wales and (c) Scotland. This data is “as reported” by employers. HSE does not hold data in respect of Northern Ireland as this is reported directly to the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) and is collated by them. Table: Worker COVID-19 Disease reports made by employers to HSE and local authorities by disease severity, specific industry sector1, and country, 10th April – 25th July 2020(Source: RIDDOR disease reporting) CountrySpecific industry sector (as reported by employer)1SIC2 code Total COVID-19 notificationsEnglandRetail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcyclesDivision 4718 ManufacturingSection C67 Manufacture of food products3Division 1043 Other passenger land transportGroup 49.36WalesRetail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcyclesDivision 470 ManufacturingSection C0 Manufacture of food products3Division 100 Other passenger land transportGroup 49.30ScotlandRetail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcyclesDivision 470 ManufacturingSection C0 Manufacture of food products3Division 100 Other passenger land transportGroup 49.30 Footnotes1Industry as reported by employers.2Standard Industrial Classification (SIC): The current system used in UK official statistics for classifying businesses by type of activity they are engaged in.3Manufacturing of food products is a division within the overall Manufacturing section.

Home Office

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many immigrants have been brought tothe UK from the sea between France and England by ships controlled or owned by (1) the Government, or (2) their agencies, in each week during 2020.

baroness williams of trafford: We do not routinely publish the information you have requested.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what circumstances migrants seeking to travel by sea from France tothe UK who are picked up in distress from international waters byUK ships can be returned to France.

baroness williams of trafford: The decision as to where to take a person rescued in international waters is a matter for the Coastguard who are responsible for that rescue zone and the master of the ship which has picked them up.Usually persons will be taken to the nearest safe Port or the home Ports of the rescuing vessel (particularly if a Lifeboat) but there are many factors which could come into play such as any immediate medical or welfare issues.

Forced Marriage

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government in how many cases the Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support related to possible forced marriage (1) to a person aged under 16, (2) to a person aged between 16 and 18, and (3) to a person aged between 18and 20, in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d) 2017, (e) 2018, and (f) 2019.

baroness williams of trafford: Information on Forced Marriage Unit statistics, including age breakdowns, can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forced-marriage-unit-statistics. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for responses to written parliamentary questions so I have attached the following publication from the Forced Marriage Unit Statistics Unit.I would also like to correct my response to the Lord Bishop’s question HL16427, from the 2017-19 session. This stated that in 2018 the Forced Marriage Unit gave advice or support related to a possible forced marriage in 1,764 cases via its public helpline and email inbox. The correct figure was 1,507.



Forced Marriage Stats - 2019
(PDF Document, 358.2 KB)

Mobile Phones: Sales

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment theyhave made of (1) the safetyand security of consumers, and (2)the prevalence of criminal activity, in the secondhand mobile phone market.

baroness williams of trafford: To help keep the public safe from crimes related to their phones, the Government works closely with the police, industry and other partners. As part of this work police forces issue advice to the public on keeping their property safe, including ensuring that the range of security features on devices are activated by consumers to prevent them being used if stolen.The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales (year ending March 2019) shows that the proportion of mobile phone owners who experienced theft of their devices in the last year continued to follow a downward trend, falling to less than 1% compared with 2.1% in March 2009 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/focusonpropertycrimeappendixtables



Property Crime Tables - 2018-19
(Excel SpreadSheet, 340.33 KB)

Northern Ireland Office

Abortion: Northern Ireland

lord mccrea of magherafelt and cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the fact that abortion remains a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, why they were required to bring the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 to Parliament.

viscount younger of leckie: Her Majesty’s Government was placed under a clear legal duty to bring forward regulations on access to abortion services under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, given the Northern Ireland Executive was not restored by 21 October 2019.The Government has delivered Regulations, which initially came into force on 31 March 2020, and these have now been approved by Parliament to remain in place as the law on access to abortion services in Northern Ireland. The Regulations deliver equivalent outcomes in practice to the rest of the UK so that women and girls in Northern Ireland can enjoy similar rights in accessing abortion services.The Government stands ready to provide whatever support and guidance we can to both the Northern Ireland Minister for Health and his department to assist them in progressing work to set up full abortion services as soon as possible, consistent with the Regulations.

Treasury

Overseas Aid

baroness goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their announcement that they have identified a £2.9 billion package of reductions in their planned Official Development Assistance spend, whether the budgets of other Governmentdepartments will be affected by those reductions; if so, which; and in each case, what will be the value of such reductions.

lord agnew of oulton: Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending departments have identified changes to their budget to make sure we meet, but do not exceed the 0.7% commitment. This package includes underspends, delaying activity and stopping some activity to maintain our flexibility in managing our ODA spending against an uncertain 0.7% position.As normal, there will continue to be adjustments in-year to individual departmental ODA spend to meet the 0.7% commitment. Revised ODA allocations for 2020/21 will be published by HM Treasury at Autumn Budget and the Statistics for International Development to be published in 2021 will provide a full breakdown of the UK’s ODA spend for 2020.

Overseas Aid

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government which departmental budgets will be affected by the £2.9 billion package of reductions to the Government’s planned Official Development Assistance spend for 2020 announced by the First Secretary of State on 22 July; and what is the value of each department’s reduction in spending.

lord agnew of oulton: Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending departments have identified changes to their budget to make sure we meet, but do not exceed the 0.7% commitment. This package includes underspends, delaying activity and stopping some activity to maintain our flexibility in managing our ODA spending against an uncertain 0.7% position.As normal, there will continue to be adjustments in-year to individual departmental ODA spend to meet the 0.7% commitment. Revised ODA allocations for 2020/21 will be published by HM Treasury at Autumn Budget and the Statistics for International Development to be published in 2021 will provide a full breakdown of the UK’s ODA spend for 2020.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Telecommunications: Coronavirus

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the telecoms sector throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: The UK Government recognises the ongoing importance of the telecommunications industry at this critical time. Now, more than ever, the country is reliant on fixed line and mobile communications networks. DCMS has worked with the telecoms sector to ensure extensive plans are in place, including support and guidance during the pandemic to maintain the availability of networks.In March, the government announced a £330bn package to support businesses, including the telecoms sector, during the coronavirus pandemic. This included among others, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS).

Sports Competitors: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the funding through UK Sport of UK athletes who were due to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and who have lost their funding due to restrictions on activity resulting from the COVID-19 emergency.

baroness barran: The government remains committed to supporting our elite athletes and we will continue to work with UK Sport in ensuring that our athletes are assisted through this difficult period. Olympic and Paralympic sport is not immune from the impact of Covid-19 and the postponement of Tokyo 2020 has significant financial implications for our high performance system. UK Sport is working hard to identify the wide ranging impacts and scenarios and is in close contact with the Government to establish how best to support our summer Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes to be ready for the Tokyo Games when they do take place. UK Sport is also guaranteeing that Athlete Performance Awards (APA) will continue to be paid and is taking a flexible approach to NGB investments within their grant awards. UK Sport is working closely with sports to be able to manage this approach. Team GB’s historic medal haul in Rio was an amazing achievement and our athletes made the country incredibly proud. I am confident that this success will continue through to Tokyo next summer.

Rugby: Finance

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ask UK Sport to provide financial support for rugby sevens teams ahead of the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after their RFU funding expires in August.

baroness barran: Decisions on elite Olympic and Paralympic funding allocations are for UK Sport. Having delivered our greatest Olympic performance in a century at Rio in 2016, It is crucial that funding is invested strategically in the right sports, the right athletes and the right support programmes. We continue to work with UK Sport and sports bodies to support our athletes and sports in the run-up to the Tokyo Games in 2021. We want the Tokyo Games to be a success and will work alongside everyone involved to help achieve this. The Chancellor announced a host of measures to help businesses, with £330 billion worth of government backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK. In addition, Sport England, has also announced £210 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.

Rugby: Females

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the professional playing opportunities available to women’s rugby sevens teams; and what plans they have to ask UK Sport to provide financial support for the Great Britain Women’s Olympic Rugby Sevens programme.

baroness barran: The Minister for Sport met with sport bodies including the RFU and RFL and Women in Sport in June 2020 to explore the new challenges COVID-19 has brought and discuss what can be done to address these. There was a shared commitment amongst sports to protect investment in women’s sport and promote its growth. Decisions on elite Olympic and Paralympic funding allocations are for UK Sport, but we are committed to helping women’s sport come out of the current crisis stronger than ever and will be working closely with the sector to ensure that happens.

Cricket: Coronavirus

lord naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the success of the trials of County Cricket games; andwhen theyestimate they will evaluate (1) how, and (2) when, to allow spectators to be physically present at live cricket games.

baroness barran: Evaluation of the cricket fixtures that have taken place to date are underway. As the Prime Minister set out in his roadmap on 17 July, our ambition is to have fans return to all sports who chose to admit them, with social distancing restrictions in place, by October 1st. We will look to expand and phase pilots to build up to and prepare for, a full Covid Secure return in October.